Officf



Aug. 23, 1927. 1,640,300

P. STRUGHOLD THERMOSTTIC SAFETY SWITCH OR CUT-OUT Filed Sept. 14. 1926 Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

rer-@EM err-flaca.

regrese@ PETnn-.srnngnpnng F sr. LOUIS, Missoonr.

THnni/ros'frn'rro vs 'ern'rr SWITCH on CUT-OUT.

Applicationpli'September 14, 1926. Serial No. 135,343.

rThis invention relates to "ab 'thermostatie controlled s'aety'Y switch I 'or 'cut'-'out, 5designed primarily vforfuse A`for the protection 'oflAl C. motors, but it istobe -understoodfthagterde- 'yice;f'in"accordance vwith this invention; can 'be' employed 'in an'yvconnection fori :w'vhc'hj .it

is found appiibie, endehef-myequohas for -ifts 'object' Afto "provide` 21" 'sfety 1 Switch I- Qr cut-out, 'flireinatteif termedm". therdiostatic le sli'v'itchyfolr not only obtininga'ggreater 'teman for the motorduringithefoperamion thereofg'as' 'xvlinrel'ays 'rireis'ed in""connec tion I therewith; "but l'furthervfr ovuefrc-(lm1'ing the 'severl objectiorris'V 'present Ein 'the use o f ,reV-

out and then'tliefwinding :is 'destroyed by feit- -cessive, temperature; when a motor is operating' in a dusty'piapeithe'oirinf-thegdashepot oit' tli'e'rel'ay gun'lsup andvpreveritsjtlleworking' the' relay; 4whenA soineftemporary are 'installed' iv'ith ti'relay,sometimes-there 'are fifteen or twenty 'horse' 'p'o'w'er're'l'aysfus'edten jhorflse power niotors,`"then` Jthe lreleA is Ano'r rprtefcti/on"Y'to the' motor 1at f al1`;"\vhe'n 'a three phase inoto'r is'run'iiing single ph'a'seand fused 'to'o'h'ea'vy andutli'efreley dash' 'p'otjor coil is out of order thei'eis'vn'opr'otection for the motor; when a` motor is 'running with low bearings'the' rotor' I isout 'of 'center in the sta-tor and vis 'not drawing enough current through the r'e'layor throughvthe fuses to blow to protect the motor and when a motor is running in a'place were' thei'eis poor Ventilation 4there is no protection' for xthe Windings and the bearings 'from' the: relayrorthe fuses. The foregoing objections are 'over come by a 'thermostatic'controlled safety switch or cutoutin accordance with this invention. y

Further objects of the/invention 'are to provide al thermostatic 'controlled safety switch ,orcut-out, in' 'a Amanner as' hereinafter` set. forth, andivhich is :simple in its construe` tion anderr'angenient, strong,durable, ycornpact` thoroughly efficient 1n its lConvenientlxv installed and" reset, ,and 'inexpensive to manufacture. y

With the 'foregoing and other objects in .ff view, the invention consists ofthe novelconstruction, ,combination'and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more especifically; described .arid-:illustrated -in' the' accompanying drawings'v7 wherein is' shown an embodiment of the Iinvention, but it' fis 'to'be I understood that ichanges; 'variations --and modiica-tions can" be resorted :to Whiclrfall withintlie-scope of thec'clairs hreunto'fappended 'fo '31 In :the drawingsr-wvheiein `like. 'reference characters? 'denote :corresponding 1 parts throughoutth seveil views: 1'; 5'- ;'Eigure' itfis:mside'fele'vatiorr of ii thermo- 'static switchoin accordance twith 1thisfinvention; and :filll'lstrating the' sanne Ienclosed in section` is@ :A

Figure 2 is a' front 4ehn/ation;of.'at thermostatic switch 'innccordance' with this. invention-fands with-the' 'switch closed, and withl ythe switch. -lranged--within fa casing, lthe'lat'ter being illstratedjnvertical section. Figure 3 .is a yertidaflsectional-.view of" a "sivi tch' 'in accordance: 'with' thi's invention, dion-ing 'the swine ferr'n'nged in 'aj Aeasing,` 1nd ifurth'er illustratingftliefswitch: i'n openfpo- 51131011. `.f fr' l 'M e '-fF-igure' 4c is 'arear elevation of .the switch, :showving theisam'e Within :Leasing-end with .'th'eiatter illustrated.:invveiiticnlfsection.' Y. e "Figure 5 i'savsectionon'line 5'-5 :Figure 3 and with the'swtitch'illutrated in .closed 'af 'cesing,' thelatter'bengs'shovvn in vertical 'fposition Referring tothe dra-Winosfin detail lgen` feral'ly indicatesabaselof insulation formed with a dianietricinlly disposed cut-out por- ?tion 2 of rectangular contour, 'and of a vlengthless than'the diameter of the base 1. The said cut-out portion extends from the 'edge of the ibase 'l and terminates adjacent 'the axis thereof. 'The length of the cut-out portion 2 is'gre'ater'thanhalfrthe diameter of the base l. The base 11is of circular contour. The lov-er face'of the base `1 is provided vwith 'a' diametric'ally disposed groove; 3 which opens into the cut-out portion 2 and at that side of the edge opposite the side at which ifa r"positioned 'theopen vend 'of the cut-out por tion 2. Th'ebase 1 is formed 'with a pair of vspaced alining' openings 4 'fr the' passage of 'hold-fast. devices to fixedly secure it i vpositionwith respect to 'themotor. f

Positioned "n""the' base f1 is" a -vertically disposed', inverted" yoke-shaped metallic strap' 5,' having'each of its arms atthe lower endther'eof Vformed with an/inturned :flange 6 which seats on theupper face of thebase.

vflginges `on the arms ofthe member 5 are oppositely disposed with respect to`eaeh other and flush with the side Walls ofthe cut-out portion 2. The top 7 of the member 5 is arranged in superposed lrelation 'with respect to the cut-out portion L-and extends transversely with respect thereto. Secured to the lower face of the base l and extending transversely with respect to the cut-out portion 2, is a reinforcing strip The strip 8 is fixedly secured to the lower face of the base l by verticallyv extending hold fast devices 9, which extend through the flanges 6I and engage in a pair of vertically extending short b'ars 10 formed of insulation or non-conducting material. The bars l extend from the flanges 6 to the top of the member andhave vtheir inner sides flush with the sidewalls of the cut-out portion- 2. rThe bars l0 are arranged in spaced relation and' are secured to thc-'sides of the member' 5, by the hold `fast-devices 1l; z Each bar '10 at a' pointvbetiveenf` its ftransverse vmedian and its upper end is formedm'th ani'openingrlf' .which extends from the front to therel ofeitsespective bariA Th'eopenlings ,12l are provided for Vthev passage of the circuit conductors-135:: Thef-circut Vconcluevtors 1'3 are. arranged atthe rear off the oars IOfandfareffcoimected -to :the uppenface' of circuitifconductorsgils-rproject rearwardly -fromothe .baseiil.f-andf"are 'arranged at each side of the cut-out portion 2. That istosay kthe'circu'it l'conductors l13; are v"spaced Yfrom =each I'sidefofthe cut-out :port-ioni 2.1: Each conductor-,13l includesa-Q ,terminal connection -oppositely disposed fangle-shapedf; Contact members 16; =117pand each consistsof an up- `standing arm 18A anda horizontallvidisposed .arm 19,Which'extends at rightangle's .to, and inwardlyfwith respect :to the lower end-'of thearm;-1S. The upper end of thc arm 18 is-mounted-on a terminal 15 and' is Sedly secured in Vposition by securing nut 20.

Theffupper end of the arm-i8 is indicated at 21 and is maintained.against; al bar lO-by motor circuit.

the-nut 20. That part o-each of the contact members, below the, part. 21, projects. .awayl from-fthe bars .-10.. Th fhorizonta-l elmsylf the contactmembers extend toof the circuit brcaker, will provide for a A quick shift -thereof'dfrom its engagement with the aforesaid contacts.v The circuit breaker is constructed from an upper sec tion 22 whichas resilient,an ,intermediate or Contact bridging section 123,'Whi ch' i s,con st-ructed -to --provide they counter-Weighting means of .the circuitA b rQakGB-,nel a lo w er. or

latehing section 24- .'-frT-,l1e5gsebtion best formed with a lengthwise. disposedj ,.slot). 26 and its lower portion proyidediwitha sleeve The-.spring 2T, which projects)x rearwardly Wit-h l respect i #rearwarlr extending' iwraedfresettlne erm non-conductingmateriah5as f. f; e.

Vlio

clearance isprrovidedifor the headioftlie i hold fast device the.. strap is bent rearvyardlyt at. riglrt angles thermostatic element l'tol be'ihereinafthreface of the sectionv 2'3fis'fbrmedvwithta. contact plate 37, Secured inzpositiongbythe,hold tast device 381l The contact plate 37- bridges electric-ally the: contactmembers -1 6 andulf, that is to say the space formedbetiveen the arms 19 offsaid members ,wherebyptlieanotor .circuit will be closed Vl1en-tlietherm-ostutieelement,` to.rbe ..presently,i referred to,

is in enffafiement-Wit-h the'nose 36 as shown inFigure 5, vthe circuit breaker will ne 'forced outwardly 'so that the Contact plate 37 will engage the arms 19 of the Contact members and `eloe the circuit and when the 5 lthermostatie element., to be presently re- Hferr'e'd to, Vis clear of the noie 3V, the circuit breaker will an-tomaticall);v swingT to the postion .shown 'in 'Figure 3 whereby the Contact. plate' `will be moved Aclear of the arms 19 l0 ofjthefontact members and the inotor circuitavill thenbe opened. The motor circuit is automatically opened when the thermo- Vstatie'elerxient, to 'be presently referred to, ','iSv'expa-Iided from excessive heat from the l-'ffrnotor Lor"froni other causes, and on 'the expandinglaction of said thermostati'oelenient it,\vill lie-caused ltol'earQthe nose 36, Awhereby." the' *.cieiit' breaker .vill automaticalll.-v `sliift'to'the'position 'li'orfn in 'Fignre 3nd The'ltherinostatie -felernentis referred Lto rally bytfhe reference Character 39 and l's""forrned from a stiyip o'f suitable metallic yArn'at'eril ,""'off thefdesiietl' lengt-h '-Widtli, aiitl eonstrn'tedxvitli an lupperl portion 40, nlinterme'diate p'ortionl whiehaseur-red lower 'portion-*42. I The 'portion '42? is ositi'onedlagains't 'the top Wall of 'thegr'oove A"3 jandthefportion'l ove'rlaps-theedge of the' basel 4at the {'rednee'd 'portion' thereof, f" vliieli. isiiovidedf'bytlieflroove35 and the frpotionljtOtpioeets'orwardlyand in la direcitirntox'vartls 'theircit*breaker and is Esfiae'etlzftive 'tli'ebase l.l "`',See'iFifgure-3 ,The 'eirciiit breakerdefinanually 'set or re- 7" Vsff'lijfltlieoperatorengagingthe arm 28 and tli'e "'cireliit breaker 'forwardlyY 1 and '1thesettixf'ofthe-'circuit breaker is in such fl'tin'iannei' thatthe 'noseG will' 'engage the fforni'ad j'd'g'ge'"ffth'e )port-ion 40. l TheY posi- *0 "tionoflheptlrtsiivhe the thei'lnostatio controllingA element-39 is in 'engagement with 'the noSeSG is as shown lin Figure 5. fOn the l expdh'siy'e aetion-`fo^f1tlie^ tlierinostatie cont-rolling eleme'ntll," it 'j'villshift -elear of the -15 nose 36. and the ',eirenit',fbreiker will then vnuove to theposition shown in VFigure 3,

whereby themotor circuit will beopen.

The 'thermostatic controllingV element 30, minberconstrneted o'' any suitable material 50 'and eanbeset up of Seventy-five percent of tin 'andrtir'ety-"five percentof lead or from seventy-five to :ninety 'percent of 1'tin and ffroni ten peroe'ntto twenty-five*percent of lead. '.'It-"isltobe understood however that 55 the therniostiitic controllingelement-vean be constructed of any suitable materia! which 'willposs'ess 'theeharaeteris-ties desired and 'nliieh is 'an'.expansive ,and eontactive faction. .fjlVhe'n'the-sviteh is installetlit should be e0f-fgla'ee'd- 'on (topfof tlie'motor on the laminated ironfifnot ,placed on the 'frame-on Ithe top A Aof the motor. Before adjusting thethermostatieelement'tlie motor Should' be rnn about an fh'onrto E:let the' thernioetatie elementplace 5D :itself in'theproper.'position So-tlrathe'ithjermostatie element -ean be set flush with the eirenit breaker. When installed on a low temperature motor, the Circuit breaker can be set flush With the thermostatioelement immediately-Vthen there is a slight tem-.

Vperatnre caused by anythingithe .'thermostatic element will aot -at once. The circuit breakereanfbe adjusted vertically and for such purpose afscrew 43 Eis provided vwhich extends th-rough the slotl26 fand-engages in an npstanding forwardly inclined apertured lng 44, 'which is carried 'by the plate 45 Secured by the hold fast-'devices 46 to theltop T of the xiieniber 5. The-screw 43 permits Wardlj`r orudownwardlv' or' in'other Words slide upgmd 'dwn stlreinelinedwlugA/l. The switch eanfbe liseditwoiwaysya's'for example -voltage release 'orlno voltage' releaseuf-When :the switch is intalled 'there is no danger of gumming up 'or aagettingnot .-of 17 order. All

'nuts andrscrews are-soldered brit-'oneend it -he fportionfAQ of ith-eri trolling 'element "39"is'scured'5to-:the base 1 a by'thehold'iastsdeviceG.

An open bottom eutfouti easing {47:s -provided .'or enclosing-cthe -.elements ofthe S- Witeh 'and' tlie'bae'en 'Eheciiieuitrbrealerwpenates space "forinedf between Etlle. :bars (l0. 'andi extends *into thexeutout'iportion 2. The; circuit breaker normallywe'xtelidsat a. rearward -.inclination'.witliwrespeotto the bars 10.5and isslii'ftedffonvardly to Aposition the` saineito befe'ngaged"oythegforward edge of 'the fporiv ionl 4016i fthe i thrmostatie. element to hold/the Contact plateiiliengagement with fthe contaet-'mern'brsto 'closefthemotor eir- Excessive temperature is also Caused by partial openings in the'line of'inotor, over loading Aof "the motor l,and 101Wv frequency. The switch will 1eet automatically when excessivetemperatreis had, or 'in other 'words ;trieel :znotors comprising a pair of eontaele' adapted to be :positioned .in the motor er'- fenit. said Contacts arranged -in spaced 'relation, *la resilentlysuspended circuit brezil-wr positionedarearwardly o fend having circuit thiion gh Af-the I closingr n'i'ean's normally clear of said contaets and adapted whenthc breaker is shifted forwardly to abut said contacts to close the motor circuit,.ianda therinostatic coutrolling -element for engagement with the lower end of Said breaker' whenshifted forwardly-:to hold-:it in engagementgwith said contacts -thereby providing -forqtheclosing of thc motor circuit, said element on the ex- 1'0 Ipansion-'thc'reofautomatically shifting clear of the 4brcakerto release the same whereby the latter will automatically move rearward -ly sto open'--therinotoicircuit.v j

2. A tliei-niostatic`safctyfswitch for 'elec- '15 tricallv motors coinprisingapair of.- contacts adapted :.to bei positioned 'inf the -moto`r- .cir ciiit, sa'idzl contacts; arranged; in spaced?? 'relationg'a resiliently suspended circuit breaker 'positioned 'rearwardly i of; .and..;haying. g 'cir- 'f cuitiic'losing. means?,-*norinallyI clearof said contacts 'adaptedf when' the breaker risp' Shift,- ed'forwardly? to abuosaid co-ntactspto lclose the motor circuit, a thermostatic Controlling elementi for i engagement withl the lower' jend :of'said-breakerfwhenshifted forwardly to hold it in engagement'*with-.'saidifcontacts -the'reby--providingcfor thef'closing of the thcrmostatic .controlling element for normal engagement with said breaker when shifted in a direction towards and holding it in engagement with said contacts -Whereby the means7 carried by said breaker willclose the tacts extending downwardly and forwardlyv fat, am inclination, and.sa1d breaker, haring @1S ai-rant thereof Spurs@ efstsoueng. and

Counter-.welghti ffii-i means. a.. @finally maintaining@ saar-Otite C0 EMS? 5.. AAimrmqSteCrsefstX SYYlfil Qifi e QC- tfica metals pairiattentatsiderteflfeto ations @resilient motor circuit, saidelement4 on the expansion thereof automatically-:shifting:clear,of

3o the fbrealcer torelease'tlfesaine whereby the Alatt'eri'will1automatically more rearwardly -toopn the motor;circuit,-'=and` are-setting arm for said breaker.i 4 Y Y "5 f'. vInl atliermostatic Safetyiswitch for elec- 35 tric-al mot-ors a:.pairfof.--spaced contacts adaptedto/.bepositioned-'in the lmotor circircuit andadaptedfonltheexpansion thereof to 'atomaren Shawna;omhe'ffbrear .t lelaseathe .fsamewhereby 14will automatically move, to normaL-position .and open the motorcvircuitrandrneansito provide for the verticaliadjustmentpofsaidibreaker.

f 6.A Inafthermostatic safetyiswitchiforelecvadapted 7 to; be positioned Ain, '.'inotorl .'circuit..v a; 'downwardly extending rand normally rearwardly inclined circuit breakerprovided -'with Vmeans normallyg cleanlof zsaid contacts lingelement adapted on :expansionthereoff to automatically clear said. breaker thereb;v fpermitting the latter' to swing automati- [cally to 4normal position and .open the motor circuit, said contacts'extcnding downwardly and forwardly at an inclination,` and said breakerihavingas a part thereof spring'conf for closing the' motonfcircuit; when said breaker is shifted from normal position, said breaker being resiliently supported, a thermostatic controllingeleinent for .normal engagement with said breaker when shifted in a direction towards and holdingr in engagement with said contacts whereby, the means carried by' said breaker Will close the motor circuit, the said thermostaticcontrolling element adapted on .expansion thereof' to automatically clearA said breakerithereby permitting the-latter to swing automatically to normal position and open the motor circuit, and

fmeans to provide for the vertical adjustment llf) mostatic controlling element for normal engagement with said breaker when shifted in a direction towards and holding it in engagement with said contacts whereby the means carried by said breaker will close the motor circuit, the said thermostatic controlling element adapted on expansion thereof to automatically clear said breaker thereby permitting the latter to swing automatically to normal position and open the motor circuit, said contacts extending downwardly and forwardly at an inclination, said breaker having as a part thereof spring controlling and counter-weighting means, and means to provide for the vertical adjustment of said breaker.

8. In a thermostatic safety switch for electrical motors, a pair of spaced contacts adapted to be positioned in the motor circuit, a resiliently suspended, shiftable circuit breaker provided intermediate its ends with means normally clear of and engaging said contacts for closing the motor circuit when said breaker is shifted from normal position, said breaker further provided at its lower end with a nose, and a thermostatic controlling element for engagement with the nose of said breaker when the latter is 'shifted in a direction towards said contacts for holding said means in engagement with the contacts to close the motor circuit, said element possessingna characteristic on the application of excessive temperature thereto to automatically clear said nose to provide for the release of the breaker thereby opening the motor circuit.

9. In a thermostatic safety switch for electrical motors, a pair of spaced contacts adapted to be positioned in the motor circuit, a resiliently suspended, shiftable circuit breaker provided intermediate its ends with means normally clear of and engaging said contacts for closing the motor circuit when Said breaker is shifted from normal position, said breaker further provided at its lower end with a nose, a thermostatic controlling element for engagement with the nose of said breaker when the latter is shifted in a direction towards said contacts for holding said means in engagement with the contacts to close the motor circuit, said element possessing a characteristic on the application of excessive temperature thereto to automatically clear said nose to provide for the release of the breaker thereby opening the motor circuit, and a manually operated re setting arm for said breaker.

l0. In a safety switch for motors, a pair of spaced, vertically disposed contacts adapted to be positioned in the motor circuit, a resiliently suspended, vertically adjustable, spring controlled, counter-weighted shiftable circuit breaker normally clear of said contacts and includingmeans when the breaker is shifted in one direction to bridge said contacts to close the motor circuit, said breaker automatically shiftable to circuit opening position and held in circuit closing position againstthe action of the spring controlling and counter-weighting means thereof, and an expansible thermostatic element associated with said breaker for controlling the circuit closing and opening position of said means with respect to said contacts, said elementl normally abutting against said breaker for maintaining said means in cir cuit-closing position with respect to said contacts, and said element when expanded clearing said breaker to permit of the automatic shifting of the latter to circuit-breaking position.

In testimony whereof, I aliix my signature hereto.

PETER STRUGHOLD. 

